Wednesday NBA: Celtics' 155 points the most since Russell, Cousy in 1958
Boston — The last time the Boston Celtics scored 155 points in a regular-season game, there was only one championship banner hanging in the rafters of the old Boston Garden. Red Auerbach was still the coach. The Lakers were still in Minneapolis.
On Wednesday night, Jayson Tatum helped them do it again.
“I think it’s more about not being bored,” said guard Jrue Holiday, one of eight Celtics to score in double figures in a 155-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers. “It's not getting complacent and locking into every game, and each opponent.”
The 155 points was the most for the much-decorated franchise since the 1958-59 team that featured Bob Cousy and young stars Bill Russell and Tommy Heinsohn beat Minneapolis 173-139. Tatum had 30 points and 12 rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Celtics used a blistering start to pull away from the Pacers and remain unbeaten.
“We’ve got so many weapons,” guard Derrick White said. “You’ve got so much talent around you, it makes the game easy.”
One game after blowing out the Wizards in Washington, the Celtics returned home and beat the Pacers even worse. White (18 points), Jaylen Brown (16), Holiday (15) and Kristaps Porzingis (13) helped Boston open a 10-point lead in the first three minutes, making it 20 in the second quarter, 30 in the third and as high as 53 points in the fourth.
Sam Hauser scored 17 points and Payton Pritchard had 15 for the Boston bench, which outscored Indiana 46-33 in the fourth quarter to complete the rout.
“We’ve got everything, right? We’re in the paint. There’s a mid-range, and you have the 3. I feel like that threat makes us even harder to guard,” Holiday said. “I feel like we have a lot of bases covered."
More Wednesday games
(At) Dallas 114, Chicago 105: Grant Williams tied career highs with 25 points and seven 3-pointers and Dallas beat Chicago to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2004-05.
Tim Hardaway Jr. added 24 and seven 3-pointers for Dallas, which led 99-98 with 4:08 left and put it away with 10-2 run.
Luka Doncic, who went into play leading the NBA with a 39-point average, had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Doncic was 1 for 8 behind the arc. Kyrie Irving missed his second consecutive game because of a sprained left left.
Zach LaVine scored 22 points for Chicago. Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and a season-high 20 rebounds.
(At) Minnesota 110, Denver 89: Anthony Edwards scored 24 points and Minnesota handed defending NBA champion Denver its loss in five games this season in the first rematch of their first-round playoff series from last spring.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and eight rebounds and Mike Conley had 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting. The Timberwolves made 26 for 27 free throws.
Nikola Jokic had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Denver.
Brooklyn 109, (at) Miami 105: Mikal Bridges scored 21 points, Lonnie Walker IV and Armoni Brooks each added 17 and Brooklyn overcame a 15-point second-half deficit to beat Miami.
Dorian Finney-Smith scored all 15 of his points in the second half for Brooklyn, and Cam Thomas had 13 for the Nets.
Tyler Herro scored 30 points for Miami, which has dropped four straight to fall to 1-4 – its worst five-game start since opening 0-5 in the 2007-08 season.
(At) Toronto 130, Milwaukee 111: Dennis Schroder had season highs of 24 points and 11 assists, and Toronto beat Milwaukee to snap a three-game losing streak.
Pascal Siakam added 26 points, and Scottie Barnes scored 21 points and matched his season best with 12 rebounds. Toronto's biggest lead with 27 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 points and Damian Lillard had 15 for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo shot 5 for 11, and Lillard was 4 for 9.
(At) Atlanta 130, Washington 121: Dejounte Murray had 24 points and Atlanta beat Washington for its third straight win.
Two days after matching his career high with 41 points against Minnesota, Murray shot 10 for 15 from the field, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range. Trae Young added 23 points and 10 assists.
Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 25 points.
(At) Utah 133, Memphis 109: Collin Sexton scored 23 points and Lauri Markkanen had 19 points and 11 rebounds to power Utah past reeling Memphis.
Desmond Bane scored 21 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 19 for winless Memphis (0-5).
Cleveland 95, (at) N.Y. Knicks 89: Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Cleveland beat New York to snap a three-game skid.
Caris LeVert added 19 points and Eric Mobley had 14.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 24 points.
New Orleans 110, (at) Oklahoma City 106: CJ McCollum had 29 points and 11 rebounds and New Orleans overcame a 22-point deficit to beat Oklahoma City.
Zion Williamson added 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points for Oklahoma City.
(At) Houston 128, Charlotte 119: Jalen Green scored 23 points, Fred VanVleet added 22 points and 11 assists and Houston beat Charlotte for its first victory of the season.
P.J. Washington scored 23 points for Charlotte.